Word Origin & History

collapse 1732, from L. collapsus, pp. of collabi "fall together," from com- "together" + labi "to fall, slip." The pp. collapsed is attested from 1609, from L. collapsus, and this seems to have suggested the verb.

Example Sentences for collapsing

And the little shop was collapsing, not suddenly, but little by little, morning and evening.

He clung with his fingers against the wall to prevent him from collapsing.

Joan would have to summon all her nerve to keep herself from collapsing.

Their sides were revetted, or held from collapsing, by strong wickerwork.

But for a moment one day that security seemed to be collapsing.

In a moment it was over, and then, collapsing with exhaustion, he sank into the chair.

He responded by collapsing like a camp bedstead, and I left him.

It seemed as if the metal helmet was collapsing under the shock.

This, they said, was the cause of its collapsing in midair under the heavy strain.

The trench appeared to be on the point of collapsing and falling in on them.